DuPage leader surfaces on Web

John Biemer, Tribune staff reporterCHICAGO TRIBUNE

The Web site's name probably says it best: www.bobforillinois.com. Not Bob for DuPage County. Bob for Illinois.

The site is perhaps the strongest signal yet that Robert Schillerstrom, the Republican County Board chairman, is considering a run for statewide office in 2006. Web surfers can read his biography, peruse photos of him with seniors, veterans and Washington bigwigs, and, of course, donate to his campaign.

His campaign for what? That's not specified. But the site assures: "Your support will help Bob make a greater Illinois."

"I think it's been quite clear for the last year that Chairman Schillerstrom has his toe in the swimming pool water to test it for a statewide race," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party. "If I were a betting man, I'd say Chairman Schillerstrom is looking at secretary of state or above. Secretary of state or governor."

It's been an open secret for years that Schillerstrom has his sights set on higher office. But now his actions seem to be backing that ambition. At the state Republican convention in Collinsville on May 16, he hosted hundreds on his campaign dime at an ice cream social and a hospitality suite. This year, he started distributing a newsletter to the approximately 5,000 GOP committeemen statewide.

Still, his campaign spokeswoman, Diana Paluch, downplays those moves and the Web site. She says he's simply trying to garner statewide support for his county initiatives.

Paluch points out that other prominent Republicans--such as House Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and state Sen. Dan Rutherford of Pontiac, who is a prospective statewide candidate--also have Web sites. But other county leaders, including John Stroger, Cook County Board president, do not.

Paluch would not say whether Schillerstrom, elected County Board chairman in 1998, was at least exploring the possibility of running for statewide office.

"I wouldn't even go that far," she said. But, she added, "Let's face it. Every politician keeps their options open."

Schillerstrom is on vacation this week and was not available for comment.

The idea to create a higher profile stemmed from suggestions that the chairman run for U.S. Senate when Sen. Peter Fitzgerald announced he was vacating his seat, Paluch said. Schillerstrom did not run, but the experience "opened eyes that there are always possibilities and you're not going to know what those possibilities are unless you're prepared for them," she said.

The Web site touts Schillerstrom's accomplishments, including his efforts to preserve open space, improve county infrastructure and strengthen law enforcement, "all while holding the line on taxes and protecting the county's fiscal integrity."

But Schillerstrom has ruffled some feathers. DuPage mayors were miffed when he struck a deal last year to transfer $15 million a year of the DuPage Water Commission's revenue to the county to help it cover a budget shortfall.

His sudden reversal last year on plans to expand O'Hare International Airport--plans he now supports--may have pleased Chicago City Hall, but it shocked and angered officials in the towns closest to the airport.

Richard Ballinger, county coroner for the last 17 years, did not mince words. He blames Schillerstrom for depleting the county's rainy day funds to balance the budget and trying to bully the coroner's office to lay off workers despite a growing workload, all while bragging about cutting property taxes every year of his term.

"Schillerstrom's done things on other people's backs to make himself look good, and he's hurt them," Ballinger said.

The chairman recently asked the County Board to look into eliminating Ballinger's elected position in favor of an appointed medical examiner.

But Dillard argues that Schillerstrom would be a formidable candidate in a statewide GOP primary, because one in four Republican voters lives in DuPage. In a general election, he'd fare well in the Democratic-leaning state because he's moderate on abortion and gun issues, Dillard says.

At this point, Schillerstrom faces an uphill battle on one front--name recognition--and that's what the "Bob for Illinois" site is intended to counter.

"My guess is there aren't six people in Springfield who know who he is, other than Republican operatives, and that's not a rap on him," said Charles N. Wheeler III, a longtime observer of state politics and a professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield. "His job has been running DuPage County."